A BBC radio presenter offended a roomful of proud Cornish men and women within seconds of going on air last night.

Jonathan Dimbleby was hosting political debate show Any Questions live from the Solomon Browne Memorial Hall in Mousehole, near Penzance .

Dimbleby was introducing Loveday Jenkin, deputy leader of the party for Cornwall, Mebyon Kernow , when he described the party as “the party for Wales”.

Dimbleby came under immediate fire from the audience who quickly corrected him.

An apologetic Dimbleby promptly corrected himself and moved onto the first question from the audience which centred on recent events in Catalonia.

Dimbleby quickly apologised to his guests

Catalan officials have declared independence from Spain after an unrecognised vote that was marred by violence, but the Spanish parliament immediately reacted by imposing direct rule over the autonomous region.

Loveday Jenkin said there are parallels in the struggle of Catalans that mirror some issues that have arisen relating to Mebyon Kernow politics.

“There are a collection of regions and small nations that have a voice and need to be listened to,” she said.

“These people have a right to self-determination and were prevented by the Spanish state from having a democratic referendum.

BBC radio presenter Jonathan Dimbleby got off to a bad start with Cornish locals

“The Spanish government has refused dialogue in the past and it’s a shame the EU hasn’t stepped in to ensure sensible discussions between Catalonia and Spain.”

The debate then turned to Brexit, sexual allegations made against Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein and the #metoo campaign before Dimbleby dropped his next clanger, referring to panel guest and founder and chairman of JD Wetherspoon, Tim Martin as ‘Tim Wetherspoon’.

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Perhaps the most serious topic of the evening came towards the end of the debate when a member of the audience asked if the Protected Geographical Indication of the Cornish pasty will be retained post Brexit.

Martin said: "The great thing about Brexit is the people we elect will make decisions, not five unelected individuals from Europe.